BEIJING - Courts in China have helped about 10,900 criminal victims since 2009, according to a statement of the Supreme People's Court on Monday.

Over the past three years, the courts nationwide have handed out about 205 million yuan ($32.5 million) as relief to the victims or their family members whose personal safety, property or other rights and interests were harmed in criminal cases, the SPC statement said.

Damages caused by criminal offenses are generally compensated by the offenders. However, the courts as well as other judicial and governmental agencies will grant some relief to cover the necessary living expenses and medical fees of the victims and their families and to help them in a timely manner in cases where the suspects are still at large or the defendants are insolvent to pay the compensations.